Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta highlights the growing expectations surrounding his team as they face the new season.
Emphasising the club’s recent top-tier signings, Arteta specifically underlines the role of Jorginho, the seasoned Italian midfielder, in shaping the youthful team.
- Arteta urges his team to embrace the mounting expectations after their performance last season.
- Jorginho’s experience will be crucial in guiding the young Arsenal squad.
- Arsenal’s new signings, such as Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber, bring a blend of youth and expertise.
Arsenal face heightened expectations
After pushing Manchester City to their limits in the previous season, Arsenal are widely expected to be formidable opponents once again.
This anticipation has only intensified due to Arsenal’s excellent summer recruitment that sees them currently as the highest spenders in Europe.
However, Arteta doesn’t want his team to be burdened by these expectations; instead, he wants them to revel in it.
“We have to be able to enjoy, then grab the opportunity we have in front of us with a lot of motivation and desire to try to accomplish everything we want to do,” he said.
“There’s more expectation this time because, when you do better, expectation will be higher – and also because of the way we have recruited.
“And it’s not only our finishing position but the way the team was playing, and the environment which was created around the club that promotes the belief.
“But we need to be very clear that what happened last season means nothing, we know that we have to start another season in the best possible way and then try to build that momentum.”
Arteta on last season’s achievements
Arteta made it clear to his team that the achievements of the last season shouldn’t be the point of reference, emphasising the need to start fresh.
Despite the noteworthy performance and the positive environment around the club, Arteta stresses, “what happened last season means nothing, we know that we have to start another season in the best possible way.”
New signings provide promise and potential Arsenal’s new additions, including Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber, offer a blend of youth, expertise, and accolades.
However, their youth mirrors the larger squad profile, which is where Jorginho’s significance becomes evident.
Jorginho: The guiding force
Signed in January from Chelsea, Jorginho’s influence within the squad has been paramount.
Arteta mentions, “Jorgi is a phenomenal character…He has been really, really, really good for us.” His guidance will be essential for the squad, especially when they confront challenges.
Arteta believes that Jorginho’s leadership and the team’s collective experience should coalesce, enabling the players to lead and self-regulate during crucial times.
Embracing youth
While acknowledging the team’s youth, Arteta expresses his belief in their growing experience.
He insists, “From the end of May to the beginning of August we have not gone from being young to now being mature.
“But they are gaining experience and I will never use their youth as an excuse, because it’s something that really describes who we are and the way we behave and play. It’s something very powerful.”